Oliver Gretchen D, Downs Talmage Jessica L, Friesen Kenzie B, Saper Michael G, Dugas Jeffrey R
Sports Medicine and Movement Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.
College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Orthop J Sports Med. 2021 Sep 8;9(9):23259671211026625. doi: 10.1177/23259671211026625. eCollection 2021 Sep.
Baseball leagues have implemented pitch count and pitch type restrictions based on biomechanical concepts associated with pitch type. Softball has not yet adopted these practices, although softball pitchers continue to pitch at a high volume and learn multiple pitches at a young age.
To examine shoulder and elbow kinetics between the fastball, curveball, and changeup, as well as to provide descriptive upper extremity pain data in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) softball pitchers.
Descriptive laboratory study.
Study participants consisted of 27 female NCAA Division I softball pitchers (age, 20.2 ± 1.9 years; height, 175.7 ± 5.7 cm; weight, 83.6 ± 12.7 kg). The participants pitched 3 balls of each pitch type, and kinetic data were recorded. A one-way within-participants repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine significant differences in kinetics and pitch speed between pitch types.
Results revealed a statistically significant main effect for pitch type (Wilks λ = .087; = 36.523; 001). Post hoc testing showed that the changeup produced less anterior elbow force compared with the fastball ( < .001) and the curveball ( = .012). In addition, the changeup produced less shoulder distraction force compared with the fastball ( < .001) and the curveball ( = .001). Additionally, there was a significant difference in pitch speed between all 3 pitch types ( = .006). The curveball revealed no statistically significant kinetic differences compared with the fastball.
The fastball and curveball placed similar stress on the upper extremity in collegiate softball pitchers. However, in comparison with the changeup, the fastball and curveball placed increased stress on the upper extremity. More research is needed to fully explain the differences seen between pitch type and injury risk.
Sports medicine professionals, coaches, and athletes should use the current study results to note these differences in shoulder distraction and elbow anterior forces between softball pitch types. The study results can be used as a reference and basis for future research investigating kinetic differences across varying pitch types.
棒球联盟已根据与投球类型相关的生物力学概念实施了投球数和投球类型限制。垒球尚未采用这些做法，尽管垒球投手继续大量投球，并在年轻时学习多种投球方式。
研究快球、曲线球和变速球之间的肩部和肘部动力学，并提供美国全国大学体育协会（NCAA）垒球投手中上肢疼痛的描述性数据。
描述性实验室研究。
研究参与者包括27名NCAA一级女子垒球投手（年龄20.2±1.9岁；身高175.7±5.7厘米；体重83.6±12.7千克）。参与者每种投球类型投3个球，并记录动力学数据。采用单因素受试者内重复测量多变量方差分析来确定不同投球类型之间在动力学和投球速度上的显著差异。
结果显示投球类型存在统计学上的显著主效应（威尔克斯λ=.087；F=36.523；P<.001）。事后检验表明，与快球相比，变速球产生的肘部前向力更小（P<.001），与曲线球相比也更小（P=.012）。此外，与快球相比，变速球产生的肩部牵张力量更小（P<.001），与曲线球相比也更小（P=.001）。此外，所有3种投球类型之间的投球速度存在显著差异（P=.006）。与快球相比，曲线球在动力学上没有统计学上的显著差异。
在大学垒球投手中，快球和曲线球对上肢的压力相似。然而，与变速球相比，快球和曲线球对上肢的压力更大。需要更多研究来充分解释投球类型与受伤风险之间的差异。
运动医学专业人员、教练和运动员应利用当前研究结果，注意垒球投球类型之间在肩部牵张和肘部前向力方面存在的这些差异。研究结果可作为未来研究不同投球类型动力学差异的参考和依据。
